OT: Eric Ebron Opinions
Why did the Browns move up one slot to grab him? Logically, you do that only if you think the Vikings would take him....and logically, the Vikings would only do it if they figured the player the Browns wanted was not the player they wanted (which of course would make the trade superfluous.)
It makes sense only if the Vikings would've taken either Barr or Gilbert and didn't care which, but the Browns had incomplete info and thought the Vikings would've taken Gilbert. If Minny had a preference for either, they wouldn't move for fear Cleveland had the same preference.
+1 Informative.
It's very simple: We resigned Pettigrew and we picked up Tate. This means had the organization felt another tight end, or at the least a (non- Sammy Watkins) receiving threat, was needed, it should not have been in the 1st round. I mean, who even drafts a TE at #10? I personally don't think we needed another TE, especially one that's not really a blocker, but if we were to get another one it should've come from a lower round pick with a lower price tag. He individually may very well work out for us, but this was just not a smart move. We needed 1st round talent at the OL or DB, and we squandered that chance. I'm hoping the rest of the draft goes smoother.
I generally don't like the idea of taking one-dimensional players in the first round, and I also don't see how he gets enough touches between Megatron, Bush, Tate, and the other tight ends to justify 1st round selection/pay. Also worries me that the guy had 8 total TDs in college - and only three last year.
That said, I really don't see who else they could've taken, since they are fundamentally opposed to 'reaching'. The earlier picks went about as bad as they could have for the Lions, and I'm sure they tried to trade down but couldn't.
I don't believe in picking a TE with a first round pick unless the guy is super good AND you have a gaping need for a player there AND you don't have glaring needs elsewhere. Good TE's can be found easily in the 3rd and 4th rounds. The Lions have some gaping holes on defense and could use another good OL to protect Stafford. And speaking of whom, the Lions could pick half a dozen All-American receivers but if the Lions don't fix Staffords throwing mechanics it won't matter. He'll still be over-throwing Ebron or anyone else they bring in.
apparently he rarely played that position at UNC. If Funchess was in the draft, he'd probably be listed as a TE too. They strike me as the same type of player, jumbo WRs who have the potential to play some TE in 2 TE sets.
Yes sounds a lot like Funchess actually - pretty poor blocker as he was a converted DL, who has some drop issues, and a guy who played in the slot for NC far more than on the line.
But ilke others said, how many "TEs" are ever picked top 10 - it's very rare; like LB, G, and RB it's a position that you sort of pick around 20 or later unless it's just a phenom player like an Adrian Peterson at RB. He seems very 1 dimensional and in the Lions offense he is going to get maybe 6 touches a game.
The way TEs are starting to be used in the NFL (see Gronkowski, Rob) and in college makes preceding history about where they get picked invalid. And the Lions didn't have a pick at 20 anyway. If he's a great player for them, no one will care in a couple years. If he's a bust, he's still a bust even if you pick him 10 spots later.
How about picking a slot receiver with a first round pick? Because that is what Ebron is.
How do you laugh out loud in thought?
High-ceiling Pass-catching TE that can't block (and dropped 12% of his passes last year).
We have one of those... His name is Pettigrew.
I think that after Gilbert was taken the Lions went to "the best available"... which I can't disagree that he may have been just that. But with so much need on defense I can't believe they didn't "reach" for one of the FS. This draft is very thin at FS and there are no instant contributors besides the three taken in the first round. Ha Ha or Pryor was the pick for the Lions.
Not a huge fan of Pettigrew myself but in all fairness he usually grades out pretty well as a blocker for TEs - obviously he has the issues of catching and retaining the ball once caught. Pettigrew is also not a speed guy who runs past linebackers.
Ebron sounds like a higher rated Scheffler in terms of skil set and what he does - that's more of the comparison.
Hoping for Jimmy Graham 2.0.
LOL, because Mayhew hasn't proved to get pretty damn good players in the first few rounds of the draft?
I swear to God some people have no clue what they're talking about and just spew nonsense because they can
when you insta snap pick ebron. if you know your guy is ebron cant you just chill and see if somebody calls you up to offer something. why why why? i cant believe i still have my season tickets
Ebron should be a big upgrade at WR and can fit in 2 TE sets. I think the only sure-fire starter available on the other side was Donald. The DBs may have addressed a bigger need, but also looked like bigger gambles.
I think what a lot of people are missing here is how abysmal the Lions were in the red zone last year and I think that was how they prioritized that #10 pick when better defensive options were taken off the board.
I would have liked to see Haha or Dennard here but I'm certainly not as disappointed as a lot of people seem to be.
Except that their second-best red zone performer last year was their tight end. They didn't need to upgrade that area of their red zone offense.
Also, a knock on Ebron is that for as talented as he is, he only had 3 TDs last year, and wasn't targeted in the red zone. His best asset is his speed, which is hampered inside the 20.
Sounds like a great pickup if the Lions are concerned with getting better in the red zone.
I'll be shocked if you see a play this year where Ebron has his hand on the ground. "TE" is merely a designation used to pay players like Jimmy Graham and Aaron Hernandez (RIP) less money these days.
I dont mind the pick. I never like taking a corner in the first round unless he is a shut down corner. Ebron is a freak. Id feel even better about it if they came away with a LB and a CB today.
This is need vs. best available. Ebron is supposedly an elite talent, and DET needs to hit on their first rounder. They did according to the gurus. This isn't a great pick for DET, IMO but I don't hate it. If he becomes their 3rd best receiving option this year, it gets better, but they've just made that a requirement for this to be viewed as a decent pick. Will hold off opinion until Day 2 is done.
They fucked themselves by not moving around. We need defense. Lions should have moved up or down to grab positions of need.
Of course, the Lions are well known for "best player available" at all times.
It's easy to say, "they should've traded down!" but you actually need someone to want to trade up to your spot for that to happen. The Lions were in a bad spot when it got to them to where no one needed to jump to 10 to get who they wanted. The next 5 teams after us were definitely not taking a QB and there was no standout WR or DB worthy of a 10 pick.
Did they even bother to explore the possibility of anyone trading up? It seemed like they were waiting with their pick as soon as Goodell got back from announcing Minnesota's pick. Nobody is stealing your pick; take some time and see if somone is getting antsy for their player before you turn in your pick.
Ebron fits what Lombardi wants to do perfectly. I think that's why they selected him. Neither Petitgrew nor Fauria possess the kind of receiving talent that Ebron has.
the lions can trade pettegrew for a #2 pick. the draft isn't over yet. even if they don't, if they go DL and DB for the next two picks then maybe an OL for depth, i will be ok with this draft.
Evans would have been a similar pick. Hopefully you're right about him being sure handed.
Evans is 6'5", 230 with a 4.55; good athlete; WR
Ebron is 6'5", 250 with a 4.65; good athlete; TE
If we would have snagged Evans most on the board would have been happy. Well, scratch out WR, write TE , add 20lbs and we are all pissed off. Just sayin'. If I don't have to see another dropped third down conversion by Pettigrew, then this pick is worth it.
Ebron ran a 4.60 at the combine.
It doesn't address a need at all. I think he's a good player, but he's not going to help the Lions win a Super Bowl.
stretch the field. Fauria also is a poor blocker and Petitgrew is nothing more than a
move-the-chains TE. Why people think the TE was so great I have no idea. It was a solid spot, but they definitely could have used an upgrade.
I have a feeling Fauria will be cut or traded.
Okay, but how does he help? You don't win championships by being able to stretch the field with a tight end. I'm not saying the position couldn't use an upgrade, but in most cases, a top ten pick would be expected to improve a position.
You generally win championships by being able to run the ball when it counts, good quarterback play, and good defense. Unless the Lions work some magic later in the draft, they'll still be lacking on defense in general.
Sadly, this comment is probably descriptive of about three-quarters of the Lions first round draft picks the past 40-45 years.
But the Lions are yeeeeears away from winning a Super Bowl. They've won one playoff game in 5 years. They're still a construction project, so I guess I'm okay with just grabbing talent and fine-tuning need at a later date.
I'd assume they'll go DB in the next couple of rounds.
I think he meant in the "last 25 years"
Try 50.
It's still been less than 25. Not much less, but still.